bzjrdick



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. BURDICK.

WIRE STRETGHER.

Patented Deo. 30, 189.0.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. BURDIGK. WIRE STRETGHER.

No. 443,640. l Patented De. 30, 1890.

wi nonms Pcrsns co., mma-urna., wumnavun o c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOllN BURDICK, OF FORT ELLIOTT, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IIOMER YV. VHEELER, OF FORT RENO, INDIAN TERRITORY.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,640, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed August 20, 1890 Serial No. 362,508. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BURDICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Elliott, in the county of Wheeler and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fences, and more particularly to the wire-stretchers used in the 1o act of building the same; and the object thereof is to etfect improvements upon devices of this same general character heretofore existing.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a side eleva-tion, and Fig. 2 a plan, of this improved wire-stretcher at work.

2o Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side and end elevation of the improved wire-clamp preferably used. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lever member taken from the opposite side to that seen in Fig. 1.

2 5 Referring to the said drawings, the letter A designates one member and B the other member of my improved stretcher. Each of these members comprises a body d, having a hook h projecting downwardly and opening upwardly at its outer end. Through its inner end is a bolt e, upon which are pivoted two links f, and between the other ends of these links, upon a second bolt e', is journaled a grooved pulley g, by which construction the device can be folded into compact position. Through the body CZ, at a suitable point, is a pin j, having projecting ends, and mounted loosely upon said body is a clamp b, which is retained in place upon the body by the pin j, said clamp having an inclined opening c through one side with an inclined seat, and carrying a set-screw S through its upper end adapted to bear upon the upper side ofthe body CZ, and to draw said inclined seat against the lower side of the body.

The member A, in addition to the parts above described, consists of a yoke m, whose outer ends are pivotally lnounted upon the bolt e out-side the links f and whose inner 5o ends are connected by a long bolt e2. Upon the latter is journaled a drum Z, having teeth Z upon one of its end anges,-and pivoted upon the long bolt e2, outside the toothed flange Z, is a lever J, having a pawl K pivoted thereto, adapted to engage the ratchet- 5 5 teeth and operated by a long handle 7c, which extends up alongside the lever. Pivoted to the yoke on, adjacent to the ratchet-wheel Z, is a retaining-pawl ZL', whose body is of L shape, its foot engaging the ratchet-wheel, as 6o shown in Fig. l. A rope R is attached to the drum Z, led over the grooved pulley g of the member B, returned to and passed around the grooved pulley of the member A, and then led entirely below the member B and tied in a simple knot, as at r, around the wire.

In operation the ends of the wires IV are passed through the hooks h, beneath the bodies CZ, into the opening c of each clamp b, and the set-screws S turned to hold the wire ends 7o in this position, as shown in Fig. l. The rope is then drawn as tightly as possible by hand and tied at fr, as above described. The lever .I is then manipulated to rotate the drum Z, and in this manner the two members A and B are drawn toward each other, whereby the two wires IV IV are drawn tight. As the wire is tightened, the clamps slip slightly on the bodies and the wire is further and more tightly clamped between the inclined faces. If a 8o wire has become slack, as is often the case, this improved tightener is applied to the wire v in the same manner, the wire passing between the two clamps b, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. l, and after the wire has been drawn tight the loop or slack which stands between the two members is taken up in any preferred or well-known manner, after which the tightener is removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I 9o claim isw` l. In awire-stretcher, the combination,with

the body d, having an inclined lower edge,

Waidly-opening hook h at its outer end, e end of the wire being stretched, the whole op- Wire clamp, substantially as set forth, on said eiating as specified.

body, links f, pivoted to the inner end of said In testimony that I claim the foregoing as body, and a giooved pulley g, pivoted between my own I have hereto affixed my sign ntnie in 5 said links, a yoke fm, mounted on the shaft of presence of two witnesses.

the pulley of one member e drum journaled ,1, 'in said yoke, an operatinglevei" therefor, and JOHN 'll" IDK'L :t rope leading from said drum around the Witnesses:

opposite pulley, thence around the remaining M. HEMAN,

1o pulley, and thence connected to the opposite J. D. ROSS. 

